WellPoint, Inc. (WLP), Molina Healthcare, Inc. (MOH), Centene Corp (CNC): Is Obamacare Failing to Reach Those Who Want It the Most?

A worrisome generational gap
Poll question: How familiar are you with the health care law?

Source: Gallup.

First of all, it shouldn’t be too much of a shock that older Americans are more familiar with Obamacare since they’re considerably more likely to go to the doctor or a hospital than someone who’s 18-to-34 years old. Yet, on the other hand, the real target for the aforementioned insurers in this expansion is the younger crowd, of which 36% still claim to be “not too familiar” or “not familiar at all” with Obamacare.

Some states have come up with innovative ways to potentially reach these younger individuals, including Oregon’s plans to use musicians and advertising on branded coffee cups to reach people, and California’s attempts to teach children in school about the bill who would, in turn, take that information home and explain it to their parents, family members, and friends.

But, I seriously have to wonder if the government isn’t cutting this just a bit close. The vast majority of people who disapprove of Obamacare are those who place themselves among the “most familiar” with the bill that meaning those who should benefit the most — and, according to Gallup, feel the most positive about this bill — won’t understand exactly how they’re going to benefit, possibly negating the benefit of a transparent health insurance marketplace.

Unless something is done relatively soon to curb this generational education gap in the PPACA, insurers may wind up disappointed come Oct. 1, and the success of the PPACA early on will definitely be thrown under an even more powerful microscope.

The article Is Obamacare Failing to Reach Those Who Want It the Most? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Sean Williams.

Fool contributor Sean Williams has no material interest in any companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on CAPS under the screen name TMFUltraLong, track every pick he makes under the screen name TrackUltraLong, and check him out on Twitter, where he goes by the handle @TMFUltraLong.The Motley Fool owns shares of, and recommends WellPoint.

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